Depression

WHAT IS DEPRESSION?

Depression is one of the most common mood disorders worldwide. The most well-known symptom of depression is low mood, where someone might feel very sad or hopeless for long periods of time. It is normal for everyone to experience negative emotions like sadness from time to time, however, depression is more than feeling fed up or unhappy for a few hours or days. It is a deep-rooted exhaustion and sadness that sticks around for months at a time causing a person to stop doing things they once enjoyed and withdraw from friends and family. Depression can consume a person's life and make feeling better difficult as people have expressed loosing their entire self identity to depression.

Common experiences

There are different depressive disorders which can be diagnosed, and depression can also be a symptom of other mental health conditions. Diagnosis of depression depends on a number of factors, like different symptoms, age and how long a person has been experiencing symptoms. Symptoms can range from mild to severe, and people can experience periods of having milder or more severe symptoms.

Symptoms of depression can include:

EMOTIONAL

Having continuous low mood or sadness – where someone feels low every day for most of the day for a longer period of time, usually more than 2 weeks

Having recurring episodes of low mood – where someone has periods of low mood which can get better but then come back. This can be over a number of years

Having no motivation – feeling like you can’t do things, or don’t want to do things, including everyday tasks like cooking and cleaning, but also including things that you would usually enjoy doing, like a hobby or interest

Feeling anxious – feeling worried or nervous more often than usual

Avoiding social activities – not taking part in social events with friends and/or family, which might lead to losing contact with other people

PHYSICAL

Feeling tearful – feeling that you are going to cry more often than usual

Having difficulty concentrating – being unable to focus on anything, like reading a book or watching a movie

Changes in appetite – feeling more or less hungry than usual, which can lead to someone eating less or more than they usually would

Feeling lethargic – feeling more tired than usual and like you have less energy

Changes in sleep habits – like sleeping more or sleeping less, having nightmares, waking up very early or finding it hard to stay asleep

Having difficulties with duties and/or responsibilities – finding it hard to carry out everyday tasks, like household chores or having a shower, or to go to work or school

STIGMA

There are a lot of stigmas that surround mental health and depression is no exception. A lot of people still believe that depression is simply feeling sad or that a person with depression is being lazy and doesn't want to do anything. These views can be incredibly harmful to someone who is struggling with depression. It can force

It is important to remember that depression is a serious mental health condition and that if someone is going through a depressive episode then they might not be as responsive or outgoing as they once were or their hygiene might slip. This is ok and is a common experience among those with depression. What is important is to practice self-care and continue receiving help. It is good to talk about how you are feeling and there is nothing to be ashamed of if you are depressed- despite what your brain might be telling you.

Graphic showing conversation with a big no sign

what does depression feel like?

Living with depression has been described to tear away at a person from the inside out, feelings of guilt become so overwhelming that it is difficult to know what to do. Often, a person knows that they have people who can support them but still feel incredibly lonely making it hard to talk about what they are experiencing. Feelings of deep-rooted exhaustion that stick around despite how much erst a person might get are also a common experience of those with depression. A lot of the time, a person with depression feels as though they have lost who they are and if the depression lasts a long time, people can sometimes forget who they were before the depression began. This makes continuing hobbies and things that you once enjoyed difficult.

TYPES OF DEPRESSION

As mentioned before, there are many types of depression, each with their own set of symptoms.

Psychotic depression – a type of severe clinical depression, with symptoms of psychosis (such as experiencing hallucinations)

Dysthymia (sometimes called persistent depressive disorder or chronic depression) - a type of depression where a person experiences milder symptoms of depression for a period of 2 years or more

Seasonal affective disorder (SAD) – a type of depression that happens at specific times of the year when there is less daylight

If you feel like you are struggling with anything you have read or any other aspect of mental health, then there are services out there that can help. If you need to talk to someone you can sign up here for our peer coaching service.

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